165: Getting it done

Things were moving along a little too smoothly over the past 5 months, in terms of training. Something always has to give, right?

About a month ago, I was rushing to get in a tempo run of 5 miles, having only an hour between the end of the workday and a prior commitment, to warm up, run, stretch, shower, and get there on time. Predictably, my focus on the run was on other things, and not my surroundings. I recall stumbling over a rock on the trail, and muttering to myself afterward, thinking "that was embarrassing" as I almost ate shit in front of a lady pushing a stroller.

The next day, I had some ankle pain but thought nothing of it. Things hurt a bit when I pushed off with my toe, but I figured it was the usual aches and pains. This sport almost guarantees something minor hurts every day, and its usually gone before the next workout. The real difficulty lies in deciphering what is a simple ache, and what is about to bloom into an injury. I gave it a couple days, iced and took ibuprofen, and tried to run an easy 4 miles. I made it through about 2 miles before I could feel it beginning to get inflamed, and ran on it until 3 miles before I was in too much pain to continue. I walked the last mile home, head down, and quite worried that I found myself 5 weeks away from my first A-race of the season, and I couldn't run without pain.

Over the next 3 weeks, I continued to ice and stretch, and found to my relief that I was able to cycle and swim without pain. But it still ached whenever I walked, so I knew I had to see my foot doc. He confirmed what my internet research had already told me was the most likely culprit...I had a dislocated cuboid bone, as well as some inflammation to my peroneus tendons in my ankle. Good times. Unlike many previous injuries I have had, this one had nothing to do with overuse, or too-much-too-soon...it was just bad luck that I twisted my ankle and managed to dislocate a bone in the process.

I am currently out of the acute phase of the dislocation, and in the strengthening/conditioning phase. I will probably wait another few days before I try to resume running, but in the meantime, I have been maintaining my fitness doing deep-water runs at the pool, and continuing with my regular swim and bike workouts. The thought of running 13.1 miles on the foot at Eagleman in 3 short weeks definitely puts an element of fear and doubt in my mind. Will I be able to run, or will I have to walk? Has all this training gone to waste for nothing? Will this be a recurring problem, and how will it affect my Ironman plans for November?

There really isn't a whole lot I can do about it, so I take some solace in that. I just have to be smart between now and race day, do my best to aid in recovery, and strengthen to make sure it doesn't happen again. Ultimately, I will race as hard as my body allows on June 13, and deal with the consequences the following day.